Sikhism·Raag Bilaaval·Shabad 62
Verse 1 of 5

Ears That Listen, a Voice That Sings

ਬਿਲਾਵਲੁ ਮਹਲਾ ੫ ॥
bilaaval mehlaa 5.
Bilaaval, Fifth Mehl:
ਸ੍ਰਵਨੀ ਸੁਨਉ ਹਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਹਰੇ ਠਾਕੁਰ ਜਸੁ ਗਾਵਉ ॥
sarvanee sun-o har har haray thaakur jas gaava-o.
With my ears, I listen to the Lord, Har, Har; I sing the Praises of my Lord and Master.
ਸੰਤ ਚਰਣ ਕਰ ਸੀਸੁ ਧਰਿ ਹਰਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵਉ ॥੧॥
sant charan kar sees Dhar har naam Dhi-aava-o. ||1||
I place my hands and my head upon the feet of the Saints, and meditate on the Lord's Name. ||1||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

With my ears I listen to the One, and with my voice I sing my Master's praise.

I place my hands and head at the feet of the saints and keep the Naam in my heart. That is how I want to spend my days.

Listen for what is good, then sing about it.
The deeper layer

Love the One with all of yourself: ears, voice, head and hands.

Sarvanee sun-o — with my ears I listen. Thaakur jas gaava-o — I sing the praise of the Thaakur, the Master. Listening and singing go together here, like Suniai, the blessing of listening, in Japji Sahib.

Sant charan kar sees Dhar — I place my hands and head at the feet of the sant, the saints. This is a picture of humble learning, like a student listening closely to a teacher they admire.

Listening, singing and learning become a daily habit. That is how the seeker wants to spend each day.

A Question to Sit With

What is something good you could listen for more carefully?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

About this shabad →
Use ← → to navigate